E4

Nelson Poirier

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Our day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year lives are often affected by something someone did in the past, sometimes very long ago that set a course for the way we do things.

We surely don't have to peruse the pages of history books long to become aware how very small groups of individuals in our past changed and shaped our lives so much.

And yes, so often those "movers and shakers" have been our own parents. Reflect on that for a moment if you will.

Today, many people derive great recreational pleasure and therapeutic rejuvenation from hiking woods trails where roads just don't go. That was not always the case, especially back in the 1950s when Dr. Art Dobson had a vision.

His vision was a walking trail that would lead all the way from Riverview across the 58-kilometre distance to that outdoor gem, Fundy National Park. Fortunately for all of us today, Art was a lot more than a dreamer. He had determination.

Recall how we mentioned a few moments ago how our parents may influence us. Art Dobson's father, Joe Dobson, was an avid hunter and fisherman and he always made his son a welcome part of those trips with his outdoor buddies. One of their favourite hunting locations was the Flint Hill, Kent Road, Hayward Pinnacle area of Albert County. Art Dobson got to know the area very well.

In the mid 1950s, Art found the hiking experience in these special woods taking over from his desire to hunt and fish. "The seed was sown" and the dream took on "legs."

Art started "surveying" that 58-km path, although 'surveying' may not have been how we interpret the word today. He would review topographical maps and follow streams or other structures from one wood road, or travel crossroad to another to cite a section of the route. This meant there would be entry and exit points all along the route which would make building and maintaining the path more possible.

It all gelled and in December 1959, Art Dobson published a map in the Riverview Recorder that showed a footpath that led the 58 kilometres from Riverview to Fundy National Park. The dream had come to fruition.

In 1959, however, a three-day hike to Fundy National Park did not get a rush of "takers." Wow, have things changed.

Art Dobson was an anesthesiologist and obviously had lots of work commitments, however this was one project that his sheer determination kept alive until the rush of the "rest of us" came to realize what a wonderful experience this "on foot to Fundy" really was.

From 1959-1969, Art Dobson "peddled" (his words) his project to anyone who would listen and steam started to puff as slowly as it may have seemed to Art.

Volunteers gradually started to build. Scout troops and local "sponsors" appeared.

Lawyer Fred Forbes offered his services for legal work, Parsons Construction offered help, and others started to blend in.

It was Brenda Parsons who compiled that very much used Redbook "On Foot to Fundy" that so many hikers still use today. However, for the first 10 years (1959-1969), Art Dobson blazed and maintained the trail almost single-handedly.

Fraser Hale then volunteered as president of the Dobson Trail, a position he faithfully held for many years to lead the small band of volunteers.

In 1969, a Trail Master was found. Edwin Melanson joined and has been an astounding Trail Master right to this day to make that snowball of Art Dobson's become one of the most respected hiking trails in all of North America.

And yes, it's right at our fingertips.

The wonderful experiences and relationships built that resulted from the dream of Art Dobson would fill books on this 50th anniversary of the Dobson Trail this year.

I owe "very much appreciated" personal gratitude to the dream fulfilled by Art Dobson. In 1988, my son David and I impulsively decided we would hike the Dobson Trail "end to end". I wondered at the time why we decided to do that hike as it was a period in David's teenage years when Dad "wasn't too smart," and Dad was wondering the same about David.

However, we did it and for three days only had one another to talk to and solve the challenges of navigating some problem sections. Yeah, we got lost; However, eventually the arrival at Fundy National Park was jubilant.

After that triumphant day, the father-son relationship had dramatically changed. We were suddenly aware how much we had in common and, over the next 20 years, hiked many mountains and trails, canoed many rivers, and created many wonderful memories that are so valued today.

I tragically lost my favourite hiking-canoeing partner on June 2, 2008. The void is huge but thanks to Art Dobson, I have many cherished memories to relive.

There are many events planned this coming season to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dobson Trail and many folks will continue to hike and enjoy this New Brunswick gem all because one person, Art Dobson, had a dream.

I hope some of you who have experienced the Dobson Trail will share your special moments and memories with me.

* Nelson Poirier, from the Moncton area, is a veterinarian by trade and a naturalist by nature. His column appears each Saturday and he can be reached at P.O. Box 25091, Moncton, N.B. E1C 9M9 or e-mail nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.